Japan Trade Envoy Akazawa Urges US to Lower Auto Tariffs

Japan’s chief trade negotiator, Akazawa, on Wednesday called on the United States to halt further tariff increases implemented through executive action and to issue a directive lowering existing duties on Japanese automobiles. Akazawa’s remarks underscore Tokyo’s concern that higher U.S. tariffs are eroding the competitiveness of Japanese car exports and complicating bilateral trade relations.